For new and aspiring actors, the prospect of playing a role that involves kissing can be daunting. One of the first questions you'll most likely ask is: Do actors actually kiss? This can be a major concern if you're uncomfortable with the idea of being intimate with someone you may just be meeting for the first time.
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So, do actors really kiss? It depends. They usually do some form of kissing, but there are ways to get around it, such as with carefully chosen camera angles or smart editing.
Whether you wind up locking lips with another actor or not, there's a lot that goes into kissing scenes that you should know about.
The mechanics of kissing scenes vary wildly; the famous Tobey Maguire–Kirsten Dunst upside-down “Spiderman” kiss required different logistics than the three-way Gael García Bernal–Diego Luna–Maribel Verdú “Y Tu Mamá También” kiss, for example. Scene tone and rhythm, magnetism, and kissing style are the main elements that factor into any kissing scene.
Scene tone and rhythm: Matching the kiss with the tone and rhythm of the scene is the most significant factor; you don’t want to bring the hilariously awkward Kathryn Hahn–John C. Reilly “Step Brothers” kissing energy to a scene that calls for Kate Winslet–Leonardo DiCaprio “Titanic” romantic kissing (or vice versa). Your director or intimacy coordinator may instruct you on how they want your kiss performed, or they may leave it to the discretion of you and your castmate. Don't forget: the timing and intensity must be just right for the scene to work.
Magnetism: Actions like maintaining eye contact, holding each other, gradually leaning in, slightly opening your mouth, or puckering your lips during the lead-up help visibly create magnetism between you and your partner that will elevate the chemistry of the kiss.
Kissing style: After you decide how to dress the kiss, figure out if it should be open- or closed-mouth. Unless the scene explicitly calls for it, keeping your tongue to yourself is usually a good idea.
If you're acting out a tender love affair, consider making the kiss delicate and drawn-out. When a sudden burst of passion is called for, try going for it with reckless abandon. With longer kisses, you may want to mix it up; try breaking it off before going back in or moving from closed-mouth to open-mouth. In all cases, work with your scene partner to figure out what feels natural and comfortable.